Simona Halep cripples Shuai Zhang to reach the second round – BNP Paribas Open 2012
Romanian number one, Simona Halep, showed top class performance to devastate the Chinese qualifier, Shuai Zhang, with double breadsticks at the BNP Paribas Open 2012 on Thursday. She jolted down a superb 6-1, 6-1 victory against the world number 160 in the
opening round at this hard court tournament held in Indian Wells, United States.
Halep showed her best tennis to crush the qualifier in their first meeting at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. She not only edged in the head-to-head series by 1-0 against Zhang but also advanced into the proceeding round at this WTA (Women’s Tennis Association)
Premier Mandatory event.
The world number 50 stormed into the Californian hard courts and drew the first blood in the opening game. She maintained her intensity and continued sliding games, eventually extending her lead to 5-0. Apart from losing her serve in the sixth game, she
broke again and pocketed the set with a 6-1 win.
Halep carried her winning ways in the following set and kept her serve in the opening game. After the Chinese held her serve in the second game, the 20-year-old unleashed her skills again and went on a five-game rampage.
The Romanian youngster spilled more doubly faults but capitalised on six out of 10 break opportunities to earn the limelight. Halep also swept away four out of five breakpoints she came across and tremendously marked 21 out of 34 points on her higher first
serve share.
Zhang on the other hand was on verge of exiting the tournament at the qualifying competition. However, she managed to upset eighth seeded Vera Dushevina and the 23rd seed, Alize Cornet of France, to enter the main draw.
The highly energetic Romanian will next confront the 28th seed, Petra Cetkovska from Czech Republic.
Chanelle Scheepers eased past Mathilde Johansson in straight sets on another court. She lost her serve three times but broke the French’s serve five times to register a 6-3, 6-3 score line.
The South African will next face Kaia Kanepi who received a bye from the opening round after being the 29th seed of this tournament.
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